Gosforth Rugby Club is pleased to announce that it will be moving back into Gosforth from this summer to be based at Broadway West. President, Neil Jamieson, formally announced the move at their AGM on July 4th 2015. In conjunction with the newly formed Gosforth Sports Association (GSA) and working with Newcastle City Cricket club, they are safeguarding their long term future by securing a long term lease with Newcastle City Council. The Council have been instrumental in realising Gosforth’s move by facilitating their aspirations for the site, which is great news for the city in the year of the Rugby World Cup with Newcastle being a host this autumn.
This move is after a year in temporary accommodation at Northumbria University’s Bullocksteads ground following an enforced departure from Druid Park after 7 years in getting it established as a rugby ground. Keith Gibson, Chairman of both Gosforth Rugby and GSA, says “I am delighted that we have secured a long term future for the Club. By negotiating a long term lease at Broadway, GSA can start re-developing both the grounds and clubhouse into a community facility not only for Cricket and Rugby, but for other sports in the area and for non-sport community activities.”
President, Neil Jamieson, explains that the Club had very little time to find a new home at the end of the 2013 season and were very grateful to Northumbria University, who provided a temporary home. “Whilst we were able to continue to maintain our league status playing at Bullocksteads, the club struggled to sustain their customary cordiality without a bar and kitchen facility. We have always prided ourselves on our hospitality and not having this facility has put a lot of strain on the players and members alike. Keith has worked tirelessly in the last year heading up a small team of club members to secure a lease at Broadway West. We are now in a position to set up a traditional club facility, but also open it up to the community.”
Hamad Hussain, Chairman of Newcastle City Cricket, adds –“ the formation of Gosforth Sports Association brings exciting times for the clubs involved and the local community . We hope to bring in a much needed revamp on the existing facilities with the clubs consisting of a blend of different ethnicities and cultures. Many years of fantastic recreational sport, benefitting health and local community activities, are envisaged. The potential is huge in this project and we urge all in the area to get on board to develop it further”.
The Club is now asking volunteers from both the Cricket and the Rugby club to assist in the renovation of the pavilion. They are drawing on members and friends of the club with key skills to have them up and running for the coming season. “The hard work starts now”, says Pete Cowey, our Project Manager for the BiG project. “We are working with our constituent bodies to look at funding for both the groundworks and the Clubhouse renovations. We are looking to improve the playing facilities as well the car parking and training areas”.
We are also pleased to announce the signing of a new Head Coach, Liam Gumbrill, who has 20 years’ experience of playing in Rugby Union. He has represented Leicestershire at Twickenham, the Midlands, Bedford Blues, Blaydon, Darlington Mowden Park and Glenfield in New Zealand, as well as spending time in Australia playing for the University of New South Wales.
Liam has worked with the RFU in schools and clubs as a Community Rugby Coach and as a Coach Educator. He has a BSc (Hons) in Sports Science, a PGCE and is also qualified as a UKCC Level 3 Coach in Rugby Union. Liam has coached a number of representative teams including Durham County U18’s and more recently Scottish RFU Exiles.
Gosforth Rugby Club was reformed in 1996 after the split of Newcastle Gosforth Rugby during the formation of Newcastle Falcons. They provide three senior teams, a colts and mini junior section. It is their intention to expand the Mini Junior age groups in the next couple of years and they will be working hard to increase their numbers.
GSA have already started talking to other sports with a view to joining the Sports Association and once the renovations are complete, we will be inviting local community organisations and residents to make use of the facilities, which will be available both on a short and long term basis.
